SB 1.3 - Nārada and Nara-Nārāyaṇa

(3) In the millennium of the ṛṣis, the Lord accepted the empowered incarnation (āveśāvatāra) of Nārada, who is a great sage among the demigods. He appeared as the son of Brahmā for spreading devotion everywhere. He collected expositions of the Vedas (the Pañcarātra texts) which deal with bhakti and which inspire non fruitive action. All great devotees of the Lord all over the universe and in different planets and species of life are the disciples of Nārada. Vyāsa, the compiler of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is also one of his disciples. Nārada is the author of Nārada-pañcarātra, which is an exposition of the Vedas for the devotional service of the Lord. This work of Nārada trains the fruitive workers to achieve liberation from the bondage of karma. The materialists do not know how to obtain eternal happiness in the unconditional state. Nārada gives direction as to how to use one’s present engagement to achieve spiritual emancipation. The Bhagavad-gītā also gives the same solution of serving the Lord by the fruits of one’s labor, and this would lead one to the path of naiṣkarmya or liberation. Appearing in the first kalpa (day) of Brahmā’s life, the Kumāras and Nārada remain thru all the kalpas of Brahmā’s life.

(4) The Lord then became Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Appearing in her, he became the two sages. They are considered as one avatāra. He undertook severe and exemplary penance to control the senses. The only duty of a human being is to voluntarily accept penance for the realization of Transcendence. The Lord is very kind to the fallen souls. He comes Himself or sends His representatives to call all the conditioned souls back to Godhead. Lord Caitanya also appeared for the same purpose. The incarnation of Nārāyaṇa is still worshiped at Badarī-nārāyaṇa, on the range of Himalayas.